Exodus 20:8-11

8 "Remember ¹the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 "²Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it ³you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant * or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.

11 "⁴For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore * the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:8-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 20

In this chapter we have an account of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; the preface to it, Ex 20:1,2, the ten commandments it consists of, Ex 20:8-17, the circumstances attending it, which caused the people to remove at some distance, Ex 20:18, when they desired of Moses, that he would speak to them and not God, who bid them not fear, since this was for the trial of them; but still they kept at a distance, while Moses drew nigh to God, Ex 20:19-21 who ordered him to caution the children of Israel against idolatry, and directed what sort of an altar he would have made whereon to offer their sacrifices, promising that where his name was recorded he would grant his presence and blessing, Ex 20:22-26.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 23:12; Exodus 31:13-16; Leviticus 26:2; Deuteronomy 5:12
• 2. Exodus 34:21; Exodus 35:2, 3; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:13; Luke 13:14
• 3. Nehemiah 13:16-19
• 4. Genesis 2:2, 3; Exodus 31:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "is in your gates"